Rebuilding in Bushfire Zones with Earthships
Link to article on THE CONVERSATION about bushfire resistant Earthships by Dr Martin Freney of Earthship Eco Homes
Family size, bushfire resilient home - CLICK HERE
EarthBnB - a bushfire resilient Tiny House - CLICK HERE
Earthships are inherently bushfire resilient due to their earth sheltered design (earth is mounded up around the south, east and west walls). Earth is a wonderfully sustainable, economical, abundant, and reliable fire-proof material.
Only the windows on the sunny north side of the Earthship need protection which is easily done with shutters and or sprinklers. And because the Earthship is an autonomous, off-grid home you know you will have electricity and water to power your pump and sprinklers during a fire.
The Earthship's greenhouse (atrium/sun-room) also affords extra protection as it creates a buffer zone between outdoors and the indoor living spaces. Add sprinklers to the greenhouse and you have a "wet buffer zone" offering even more protection. The plants will appreciate it too.
An earth-covered Earthship (i.e. with a green-roof or earth-roof) gives even more protection and makes the living spaces very air-tight which helps keep out smoke.
The end of the earth-tubes (the zero energy air-con system) can be covered with a wet fabric to filter-out smoke from the incoming air.
And a special "safe room" where you can control your fire sprinklers can provide a "bunker" style fire resistant refuge where there is no radiant heat (from windows) and the walls, ceiling and floor are all non-flammable.
Can you think of a more fire resistant, ecological (sustainable) and affordable home?
Only the windows on the sunny north side of the Earthship need protection which is easily done with shutters and or sprinklers. And because the Earthship is an autonomous, off-grid home you know you will have electricity and water to power your pump and sprinklers during a fire.
The Earthship's greenhouse (atrium/sun-room) also affords extra protection as it creates a buffer zone between outdoors and the indoor living spaces. Add sprinklers to the greenhouse and you have a "wet buffer zone" offering even more protection. The plants will appreciate it too.
An earth-covered Earthship (i.e. with a green-roof or earth-roof) gives even more protection and makes the living spaces very air-tight which helps keep out smoke.
The end of the earth-tubes (the zero energy air-con system) can be covered with a wet fabric to filter-out smoke from the incoming air.
And a special "safe room" where you can control your fire sprinklers can provide a "bunker" style fire resistant refuge where there is no radiant heat (from windows) and the walls, ceiling and floor are all non-flammable.
Can you think of a more fire resistant, ecological (sustainable) and affordable home?